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Keeping English terminology in French Translation
Thread poster: Florence Bouchard-Lepage
Florence Bouchard-Lepage
Florence Bouchard-Lepage
Canada
Local time: 03:59
English to French
May 31, 2016

Hi ! I am translating a custom user guide for a software from French to English. The client created their own user guide and they want a french version. The software has its own user guide in French already, but a lot of the terminology is in English. Should I translate all the terms, or keep the english terms like they did in the official software user guide ? Thanks !
 
Lori Cirefice
Lori Cirefice  Identity Verified
France
Local time: 12:59
French to English
It isn't clear May 31, 2016

You are updating the existing French translation, from English?

The answer to your question depends... is the software user interface available in French? Perhaps those English terms in the French translation are referring to things like "click on XYZ" when XYZ is in English in the software, so should be kept in English even in the French translation...

If there *is* a French user interface, then you need to request screenshots etc so you can use the existing terminol... See more
You are updating the existing French translation, from English?

The answer to your question depends... is the software user interface available in French? Perhaps those English terms in the French translation are referring to things like "click on XYZ" when XYZ is in English in the software, so should be kept in English even in the French translation...

If there *is* a French user interface, then you need to request screenshots etc so you can use the existing terminology.

Then you have vocab choices such as e-mail or courriel... hashtag or mot-dièse... these will depend on the customer, audience, etc.

You should check with your client to see what they want! ▲ Collapse
 
Florence Bouchard-Lepage
Florence Bouchard-Lepage
Canada
Local time: 03:59
English to French
TOPIC STARTER
Thanks Lori May 31, 2016

Hi Lori, thank you for your reply.
Yes I'm translating it from English to French, and the software is only available in English.
I will confirm with my client, but it seems fair to leave some terminology in english. I will try to avoid translating an english term into a french verb, like they did in the official user guide in French.
 


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